YOUTH shelters could be the answer to tackling yobbish behaviour in Fawley and Holbury.

The idea was given police endorsement in a presentation to Fawley Parish Council. Hythe inspector John Kenna said a similar iniatiative in Fordingbridge, which has two shelters, had worked well.

Insp Kenna, pictured, said some problem behaviour in the hotspots such as Holbury Drove was now being routinely challenged by his officers.

But he said the traditional thinking of providing youth clubs and or other activities wasn't the answer for a minority of troublemakers.

A youth shelter - an informal and unsupervised rigid structure - would give youngsters somewhere to gather, rather than hanging around street corners or the local park causing trouble. A sense of ownership would make it more likely they would look after it, he said.

"This kind of thing is even more important for kids in the New Forest because they cannot get around as easily as those living in the city," he said.

But he warned councillors: "The biggest challenge is letting residents know why it is there and persuading them of the benefits. I've no doubt there would be a lot of resistance."

Insp Kenna said there were various pots of money from which to obtain funding for a shelter.

Fawley Parish Council chairman Alexis McEvoy, pictured, said a Friday activity club at Gang Warily had already been set up, with another to start in Calshot on Saturdays.

A survey of Holbury residents had been carried out and the opinion of youngsters would now be canvassed about a shelter, she said. "The trick is finding the right type of shelter and putting it in the right place,"

Mrs McEvoy said. "If we do go down that road we have to consider not just the youngsters but the residents as well. But we have got to give something a try."